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Ethical issues in HIV medicine

Author

Lim, Rachel Wei Shan

Date of Issue

2017

School

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)

Abstract

Vertical transmission of HIV has declined steadily over the years with the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART)
during pregnancy. However, an ethical dilemma arises when a mother refuses ART and increases the risk of
transmission to her child, sparking discussions on mothers’ autonomy, fetal interests and their conflict. Mental
disorders like schizophrenia have the potential to diminish a person’s autonomy and decision-making capacity, and
the issue takes on a different ethical dimension when schizophrenia is involved. This paper aims to discuss the
ethical issues of autonomy, beneficence, surrogate decision-making and maternal-foetal conflict with a systematic
approach through a case study.